CONCEPT OF AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLE UTILIZATION TO ENHANCE UNDERWATER SECURITY IN THE NATUNA SEA

As a maritime nation with vast sea territories, Indonesia faces significant challenges in safeguarding its waters, particularly in strategic regions such as the Natuna Sea. This area is vulnerable to various threats, including territorial violations, marine resource theft, and illegal underwater activities. This study aims to formulate a concept for the utilization of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) as an alternative solution to enhance underwater security systems in the region. The method employed is Research and Development (R&D), adopting model development steps and complemented by a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of AUVs in the context of Indonesian maritime defense. The research findings indicate that the main strength of AUVs lies in their technological capability to effectively detect underwater threats. Although they have weaknesses, such as high operational costs, dependency on imported components, and limitations in battery endurance and sonar capabilities, these factors do not significantly hinder AUV effectiveness. Major opportunities arise from global technological advancements, yet challenges remain due to insufficient government policy support. The threats faced include the risk of sabotage and extreme weather conditions. Therefore, the recommended strategies are to maximize the use of technology, strengthen supporting regulations, and address logistical and financial barriers to realize effective and sustainable AUV operations in the Natuna Sea.